Black Swans

General
The Black Swans a privateer band led by the infamous Black Swan - is easily one of the most successful and dangerous raider groups in the skies. The Swans formed in 1934, after the Black Swan left Red Sky’s pirate band (taking eight planes with her).

The Black Swans moved across the country, raiding in the ISA, People’s Collective , Dixie , Republic of Texas , preying on pirates and civilian targets alike and recruiting the best flyers she could. (Recruitment into the group is strictly on an invitation only basis.)

By 1936, the Swans ranks had swelled to three squadrons (of eight planes each). The first and second squadrons (commanded by Eddie Sears and Valkyrie DuChamp, respectively) are fast-attack forces; the third squadron is commanded by the Black Swan herself.

One of the more remarkable aspects of the Black Swans is their relative lack of brutality. While they are dangerous and skilled combatants, the Swans inflict a surprisingly small amount of collateral damage. The group seldom expends ordnance wastefully, and excessive tactics (such as indiscriminate strafing of ground targets) are not tolerated by the Black Swan. While the Swans can be as ruthless as any other group, they do their best to direct their actions against legitimate military, commercial or piratical targets.

Planes and Zeppelins
The gang owns at least one heavily-armed and above average-armored Zeppelin; the DARK ANGEL. Its additional weaponry weight is equalized by a relatively big size. For comprehension: the Pandora is only 3/4 of the length of the DARK ANGEL. The airship does not show any disadvantages in speed though, which concludes that it has upgraded engines as well.

The Curtiss-Wright J2 Fury is the most common used plane by the gang, while since 1937 the Black Swans utilize more planes such as the Hughes P21-J Devastator in order to have a wider range of possibilities such as defending themselves from threats like Die Spinne and the Red Skulls.

During the The Red Menace mission the Black Swan Furies seem superior to the Fortune Hunters' Devastators.